Andrew Loudon - Curriculum vitae#

Education:

Educated at Abingdon School, England, and then worked as a field assistant to Dr Louis Leakey, Anthropologist, Nairobi, Kenya (1968-69), prior to University (Pembroke College, Oxford) where I read zoology (graduated 1972). Following a further year in Africa (Ethiopia), returned to the UK to study for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh (Territorial and reproductive behaviour of deer).

Early career:

This focussed on studies of the neuroendocrine mechanisms of seasonal timing in mammals. While at the University of Edinburgh, A. Loudon initiated studies on seasonal timing and neuroendocrine function (prolactin and gonadotophin secretion). Much of this early work used domesticated red deer as model organisms and fostered a life-long interest in comparative physiology. Studies in this period (23 publications from 1983-94) defined how offspring behaviour and internal timing circuits sculpted neuroendocrine function, and defined the role of pineal melatonin signalling on gonadotrophin secretion and growth/metabolic processes. Following a move to the Institute of Zoology, University College London, A. Loudon was appointed to head a research unit in Comparative Physiology. During this time, Prof. Loudon pioneered investigations of seasonal timing in marsupials (neuroendocrine control of embryonic diapause), and research highlights included discovery of the mechanisms of prolactin action on ovarian steroid synthesis, and it s control by melatonin. Prof. Loudon was appointed Head of the MRC/AFRC joint research council Programme in Reproductive Biology at the Institute of Zoology (1992-95), and to a visiting Chair, University College, London (1993-95). During this period, A. Loudon also spent a year working at the NSF Center for Biological Timing, University of Virginia, USA (1991), (with Professor Michael Menaker).

Subsequent career:

Prof. Loudon moved to the Chair in Animal Biology, University of Manchester in 1995, and for the past 16 years, he has focused on development and use of novel transgenic mouse models to study circadian clock function, and on mechanisms of action of melatonin in relation to neuroendocrine regulation of seasonal physiology. Studies on seasonal timing mechanisms currently focus on melatonin targets within the pituitary gland and has recently lead to the elucidation of genomic action of melatonin in control of hormone release and intra-pituitary signalling pathways (Ivanova et al 2008, Am J. Physiol; Dupre et al 2008, Endocrinology; Dupre et al 2010 and Dardente et al 2010,Current Biology; Dupre et al Current Biology 2010, 2010; Lu et al Current Biology 2010; Hazlerigg and Loudon, 2008, Current Biology).

Current Collaborative studies with the pharmaceutical industry:

Much of the research in the laboratory on circadian timing has developed as a result of partnerships with UK research funding agencies and major pharmaceutical companies. This has lead to a joint initiative with GSK and the formation of a Centre for Nuclear Hormone Receptor Research at the University of Manchester, which I head jointly with Professor David Ray. A major current focus of the laboratory now relates to pursuing mechanisms whereby the core clockwork of the cell drives physiology, much of this in collaboration with colleagues at Pfizer and GSK. The former link has involved the laboratory in the use of novel CK1 inhibitors to regulate cellular timing mechanisms and behaviour (see Meng et al, 2010, PNAS; Meng et al, 2008, Neuron, Loudon et al 2008, Cold Spring Harbour Symposium; Walton et al 2009, J Pharmacol Exp Ther; Maywood et al, J.Neuroscience, 2012). These studies continue as we seek to define mechanisms of kinase regulation of PERIOD protein turnover in the cell, and develop from our earlier collaborative studies with US colleagues which defined for the first time post-translational mechanisms underpinning circadian timing (Lee et al 2002, Cell). Use of CK1 inhibitors have the potential to re-set aberrant circadian clock and sleep function in man (Meng et al 2010; PNAS). Collaborations with GSK focus on the orphan nuclear receptor REV-ERBa on inflammatory pathways in macrophages, and circadian gating control of cytokine release, initiating from our discovery that a novel ligand of REV-ERB re-sets the core clockwork mechanism (Meng et al, 2008, J. Cell Sci.).

Other services:

Prof. Loudon has served on many national and international funding agencies as a panel member and reviewer, on international journal editorial boards, and has delivered a large number of invited plenary talks at International meeting, including named lectures. Prof. Loudon has trained 18 PhD students, and supervised 16 post-doctoral research scientists to date.

Membership of professional bodies and external responsibilities

i) Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, Executive Board member
ii) Endocrine Society (UK)
iii) Society for the Study of Fertility
iv) Endocrine Society (USA) v) British Neuroendocrine Society vi) British Neuroscience Association.

Editorial Board Membership

i) Editorial Board, Journal of Endocrinology 1990-1998 ii) Editorial Board, Neuroendocrinology 2006-present.

Membership of non-governmental panels

i) Expert Member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Deer Specialist Group
ii) Captive Breeding Specialist Group of IUCN/WWF, 1995-present
iii) IUCN advisory panel on re-introduction programmes (1990-94)

EU panel membership

i) 2005: Expert reviewer for Framework 7 Programme in Fundamental Genomic (Brussels, 1st-4th February)
ii) 2004: Expert Reviewer for EU programme (Mid-Term review of Brain Time, Munich)
iii) 2009: Expert reviewer for EU programmes

Membership of Research Funding councils and related committee

i) 2005-2009 Panel Member Animal Sciences Committee, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK
ii) Panel Member, Leverhulme Trust Research Board 2005-2009.
iii) 2004-2006 Panel Member for MRC Cardiovascular and Reproductive Biology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Research Training and Career Development

Panel

iv) Panel member of BBSRC UK. Animal Welfare Committee (2007-2010)
v) Member of BBSRC Veterinary Science and Welfare Panel (2004-6)
vi)1997 Member of BBSRC Visiting Group: Babraham Institute, Cambridge
vii) 1998 Member of BBSRC Visiting Group, Rosl